Service at Paradox sucks period. I'm not willing to write it off as one person working up front because well, that can be changed. Its not like someone is calling in every night, they chose to be understaffed and provide poor service. Diner food should not take 30 minutes to hit the table, it makes no sense.

Peets is the best prepared coffee in town, sorry Amy :p

They have a pearl location and a downtown location though, so if you live elsewhere you have to settle.

wow! thanks everyone!
as for Lake OsWEgo, I have friends there so it was a starting point. however, now that i have been provided with the list of BETTER places to live i can search while still here in NJ . this is way easier now.Portlanders Rock! (how's that?)

I bike a lot, so a 30 minute bike commute is okay. bike commuting in NJ is impossible most places. i have been hit 3 times, twice by cars and once by a Snapple bottle.
One of the main reasons we are moving there is we think we can live better. the house/rent prices are the same as here,but it's a bigger city. we won't need the cars as much, insurance is cheaper, no carjackings, etc. BF is in the bike industry, so he will hopefully be able to get a better job. Plus, more stuff we like to do, and veggie friendly. and Soy Lattes.:lick:

moving date is DEC 1st:vebo:

one more question: how hot does it get in the summer? we would like to move with as little as possible, if is worth dragging the air conditioners along.i looked at so temp charts but how it is for youse guys?

I think it's quite easy to live w/o a/c here. There might be a week or two where it gets into the 90s and you need to use window fans, but it really isn't too bad. Of course my house has central air, so I can't really say what it's like to survive without it. :D

When I went for a coffee this morning, they said they were out of soy. :( And then she asked "would you like to try rice milk instead?" :) I really have to wonder if that would happen most other places!

Peets is the best prepared coffee in town, sorry Amy :p

They have a pearl location and a downtown location though, so if you live elsewhere you have to settle.
As a sometimes-visitor to Portland from just an hour or two north... I have to say I really like Peets coffee too, but had forgotten all about it until I saw it in this thread!

Oh, and if it were me, I would bring an AC along - one anyway. Not anything like NJ but there are some hot days in the summer and it's sure easier to sleep on a hot, muggy summer night with that AC on just a little bit - even here in Washington where it's maybe two degrees cooler!!

(People with AC in their houses always tell me "Oh, you won't need it" but they have theirs running half the summer and don't even realize it... :sweat: )

My question is how is the weather in the winter? About how many months each year will I not be able to use my bike?

I think it's quite easy to live w/o a/c here. There might be a week or two where it gets into the 90s and you need to use window fans, but it really isn't too bad. Of course my house has central air, so I can't really say what it's like to survive without it. :D

Portland doesn't get NEARLY as humid as it does on the east coast, so you should find summers quite pleasant. I think on average it's in the high 70s and low 80s in the summer. It might hit 100 maybe 3 days out of the summer. Portland weather is so mild.

As for winter... the question isn't "how many months each year will I not be able to use my bike" but "do you mind riding in the rain?" :D If you get a raincoat and fenders for your bike, you should be just fine riding year round.

As a sometimes-visitor to Portland from just an hour or two north... I have to say I really like Peets coffee too, but had forgotten all about it until I saw it in this thread!

OK OK fine. I'm goign to have to try it then. When I lived in Sacramento, I used to go to Peet's, but their coffee sucked ass. Well, it was okay, but Java City was 10x better, and Java City is only slightly better than Starbucks.

I have a new coffee to try now!! :vebo:

As for winter... the question isn't "how many months each year will I not be able to use my bike" but "do you mind riding in the rain?" :D If you get a raincoat and fenders for your bike, you should be just fine riding year round.


You mean, there's no snow?

rarely! A couple of years ago, we got a freak snowstorm (like 7" of snow) and the whole city shut down for a week. Hardly anyone went to work :p

If it does snow, it rarely ever sticks.

rarely! A couple of years ago, we got a freak snowstorm (like 7" of snow) and the whole city shut down for a week. Hardly anyone went to work :p

If it does snow, it rarely ever sticks.

Holy cow! YESSSS! I hate snow! I'm so sick of it.

I live on a mountain, and we get a good bit. They plow it all onto the sidewalks, so your trudging through snow that's waist high or slushing through the edge of the street and getting splashed by cars. NOT fun. And instead of using salt on the roads, here they use cinders, which make biking crappy year round.

Reason #1862 why Portland is perfect. :smitten:

what ? no snow? i just bought awesome heavy duty snow boots. and they're purple! so cute! i will have to return them.:-/

i don't like snow, but i really liked these boots.

Sokara, you are moving there as well?

Yup, we maybe average 2 days of snow a year, I would say. You could always keep your boots for going up to play in the snow on Mt Hood...

Sokara, you are moving there as well?

Yup! I was planning on going this winter, but it looks like I might wait until as late as May now, since I'm helping to collect signatures to ban gestation crates and veal crates here in Arizona... I'm kind of bummed, because I want to go NOW, but this is more important for the time being.

You'll have to tell me what it's like to be new there!

KEEP THE BOOTS :D they're purple! you can't take them back

Portlnad is an hour from the mountains - keep the boots; you'll wnat them for snow play :)

Yup! I was planning on going this winter, but it looks like I might wait until as late as May now, since I'm helping to collect signatures to ban gestation crates and veal crates here in Arizona... I'm kind of bummed, because I want to go NOW, but this is more important for the time being.

You'll have to tell me what it's like to be new there!


yeah, you're doing Good Work. can't leave now.

I will totally keep you updated, and give you a heads up on how bad the hazing is.(probably they string you up, upside down, and beat you with an organic carrot.)

KEEP THE BOOTS :D they're purple! you can't take them back

Portlnad is an hour from the mountains - keep the boots; you'll wnat them for snow play :)

there are not really great for hiking or quick movement of any kind. they are what i call "stompers" heavy, unyeilding, made for trudging through 6 inches of snow. but purple.

excuse to buy more shoes!:hamster:
This thread is really inspiring me to start packing, too.

RE: Paradox--to me, it's one of those places where I go when I'm hungover/still drunk, curl up in the booths, and eat a long fatty breakfast while reading the paper. I don't mind the slowness, I think the deliciousness of their home fries are worth it.

oooh home fries. Well I will give the place another shot on a lazy morning. I've been there twice. Once had uh... something. I forget. Wasn't special. The other time I had a reuben I think, and the one I make at home is better. :p

However, I'm all over teh home fries!

I've been to both Veganopolis and Blossomming Lotus. I recomend the weekend brunch at Veganopolis. I liked everything they had- buscuits & gravy, pancakes w/real mapal syrup & bread pudding (delicious!!!). The sweets are not to be missed (spelt chocolate chip cookie, peanut butter cookie, chocolate brownie & muffins.)
I only got a fresh fruit smoothie and a cookie at Blossomming Lotus, which were yummy. I can't wait to go back to enjoy a meal.

I need some help Portland people!

I will be in Portland for one night - I am flying in to Portland and then will be driving to Chinook Casino in Lincoln City (on the coast I guess) to go see INXS in concert! :guitar:

But we will have one night in Portland - Any cool hotel recommendations - somewhere close to cool place we can walk too? (it doesn't have to be super cheap or super expensive maybe in the middle). Any great rock clubs to check out? Any funky, cool shopping areas? And I get one restaurant (maybe two) which ones should I check out?

Thanks!

okay Portlanders...:sunny:

Could you reccommend a bank?. I have to open an account to prepare for renting.



Move date has now been moved to January. :furious:

[QUOTE=purrpelle]okay Portlanders...:sunny:

Could you reccommend a bank?. I have to open an account to prepare for renting. (question answered, never mind)

Also: live music: what are the best bars/pubs for folk/rock/blues type stuff?

Move date has now been moved to January. :furious:

I like Washington Mutual www.wamu.com
I've never had any trouble with them

Other big ones are:
Wells Fargo
US Bank

I'm a new member, living in Portland. :hi:

Depends on whether you want a big or small bank. The big banks here are Wells Fargo, US Bank, Bank of America, and wamu. Portland Teacher's Credit Union allows anyone to join & is supposedly good for a CU. There are a lot of smaller CUs around but the problem I have with them is that it's impossible to find any ATMs for them so you pay thruogh the nose on ATM fees if you use those a lot. Alternatively you can always do the cash-back thing at grocery stores.

Texaspice, my advice is to pick up a Willamette Week (www.wweek.com) and see what shows are playing. If you stay in a small place downtown, you'll probably get something relatively affordable ($90/night or so) and it'll be close to everything - bars, clubs, restaurants... plus you can hop right on the freeway & head to the coast from downtown (on hwy 26).